Bridging the Gap

From The Critics

This is a brilliantly conceived charting of the social, ideological, and political issues that divide America today. In 12 bibliographic essays, the editors and nine contributing authors, all librarians at Pennsylvania State University, objectively describe the crucial issues of our time and provide authoritative sources for exploring them The chapters cover general issues of polarity; the federal government's role in bridging the gap in social services; law and criminal justice; poverty, welfare, and unemployment; caregiving and caregivers; hunger and malnutrition; the homeless; children and learning; adult literacy; substance abuse; health care; and changing family structures. Such issues as bilingualism, race relations, and teenage pregnancy are not handled separately but within the context of the larger issues of a diverse, changing society with many social problems Each chapter begins with a definition of its topic and moves through the historical context into recent trends, issues, and proposed solutions. The sources of additional information at the end of the chapter include books, nonprint materials, periodicals, indexes and databases, electronic bulletin boards with Internet addresses, organizations and government agencies with telephone numbers, and LC subject headings. Analysis in the text is readable, and citations are complete and current. Because the work was prepared before the health-care debate and general election in 1994, there is some uncertainty over many of the issues, a continuing problem in social science reference books With an objective analysis of the issues, an extensive range of sources, and an accurate index, this book will be valuable for medium-size to large public libraries, all academic libraries, and special libraries in the social science areas noted.

Booknews

Twelve bibliographic essays address profound social problems that Americans currently face. The essays summarize the conflicting concerns, discuss possible resolutions, and present lists of resources for further study. The issues examined are media and popular culture; public policy and government; law and the justice system; poverty, welfare, and unemployment; child care and elder care; hunger and nutrition; homelessness; children and learning; adults and literacy; substance abuse; health care; and the changing family. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)